Re: Review of Section 7.1 by ARIA working group in PF

Rich Schwerdtfeger

"Edward O'Connor" <eoconnor@apple.com> wrote on 10/02/2012 07:03:48 PM:

> From: "Edward O'Connor" <eoconnor@apple.com>
> To: public-html-a11y@w3.org,
> Date: 10/02/2012 07:04 PM
> Subject: Re: Review of Section 7.1 by ARIA working group in PF
>
> Hi Rich,
>
> You wrote:
>
> > 1. We read this text and we don't believe this text was agreed upon by
> > anyone and we have doubts this is enforceable[…]
>
> This text predates the ISSUE-204 discussion; in fact, it's been in the
> spec since March 2010:
>
>                         http://html5.org/r/4846

>
> > From an accessibility perspective it does not really hurt us[…]
>
> OK. Given that, can you live with that paragraph it currently stands? If
> not, would it help if the example were changed from screen readers to,
> say, printers?
>
yes, if you were to change this to printers that would be excellent!

> > 2. […] I don't have an issue with it[…]
>
> OK.
>
> > 4. This text refers to content being active but what is not clear is
> > whether "active" hidden text would appear in the tab order. We don't
> > believe that is the case but it needs to be stated somewhere.
>
> OK. Do you have suggested text to make that clear?

Yes. I would suggest changing the following text:

"Elements in a section hidden by the hidden attribute are still active,
e.g. scripts and form controls in such sections still execute and submit
respectively. Only their presentation to the user changes."

To:
Elements in a section hidden by the hidden attribute are still active, e.g.
scripts and form controls in such sections still execute and submit
respectively. Only their presentation to the user changes. Although active,
content hidden by the hidden attribute is not focusable and does not
participate in sequential focus navigation.


> > For example, what happens when you have <div tabindex="0" hidden>.
> > Does the div appear in the tab order?
>
> Did you try that in browsers? What happened?
>

Yes, I tried it using Firefox and Chrome and both skipped the hidden div.
Safari (Version 6.0.1 (7536.26.14)) on Mac OSX did not allow me to tab to
any of the active elements whether they were visible or hidden. I am not
sure why. hidden does not appear to work in IE9.0.8. Perhaps there is a
mode I need to select.

(See attached file: hiddenactive.html)
>
> Thanks,
> Ted
>